Chapter 12

Robinpaw was tense when he woke. His dream lingered in his mind, seeing Starlingthorn – a TigerClan cat! – talking him about the forest and Cinderpaw. Robinpaw dug his claws into his nest. Why was a TigerClan cat trying to help him – wasn't she betraying her Clan? Has she been the reason for his dream…?

No, he told himself. His dream had been false, yes; but she was a normal cat. She wouldn't be able to send him a dream like that as far as he knew. And besides, she was sucked up into the woods in her dreams just like he was. There had to be a reason.

But he'd trusted her, and Robinpaw felt sour because of it. After everything that TigerClan had done, his only friend in that dream-place was one of them. Silverhawk was certainly not what he seemed – his rough training sessions left Robinpaw too sore, both physically and emotionally. Something was wrong about all this, and Robinpaw wondered if Starlingthorn had been trying to tell him about it all along.

How can I believe anything she says now, thought? Robinpaw wondered. He swallowed. She's a TigerClan cat. She could be lying!

"Robinpaw! You're awake!"

Robinpaw pricked his ears. Cinderpaw was moving around the den, shuffling her pawsteps but moving nonetheless. Robinpaw placed a paw against the ground to feel her movements. She was stiff but she wasn't babying her leg as much as she had been before.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Good!" Cinderpaw chirped. "Just going to take my medicine."

Robinpaw got up and stretched, then he licked his thick chest fur. "Are you going swimming with Stormfur again?" he wondered during his light grooming session.

He didn't hear Cinderpaw nod, but he assumed she had. "Graystripe is coming, too," she meowed. "It's been a while since Graystripe's been swimming."

"Oh?" Robinpaw wondered. He'd never known that the old warrior could swim.

Cinderpaw went on, "He lived with RiverClan, back in the old forest. After a while with them he was swimming like a fish!"

Robinpaw cocked his head. Cinderpaw was so certain, it almost sounded like she'd been there herself. Sometimes Cinderpaw did that – said or did things that didn't make much sense. It was a quirk of hers, but it always set Leafpool's heart racing when it happened. Robinpaw wondered why.

"Graystripe wanted to come," Cinderpaw went meowed. "To flex his swimming muscles, I guess."

"Well, be careful," Robinpaw meowed. "The lake's been getting low. That mud is going to be dangerous."

Cinderpaw purred. "You're cute when you worry, Robinpaw; but I'll be fine. Stormfur and Graystripe are strong, and I'm getting stronger too! Leafpool said that by the full moon I might be able to run again!"

Robinpaw swallowed. His misgivings about Starlingthorn were like a chestnut in his throat – without the dark she-cat's help, Cinderpaw wouldn't be nearly this optimistic, if she was at all. Starlingthorn's advice was what helped spur it on, and without it Cinderpaw would be lying her nest moping over her medicine and exercises.

I can't be too hard on Starlingthorn, he told himself. If she's bad, I'm sure she'll show her true colors soon enough. Right now she's been helping me, and… maybe if I can get her to trust me a lot more, she might tell me stuff about TigerClan. That would be useful…

Cinderpaw's sigh broke Robinpaw thoughts. From across the den, Kestrelpaw wondered, "What's up? Is it your leg?"

"No," Cinderpaw meowed. Her tone was sorrowful. "I just thought about the moon being full again soon – there won't be any more Gatherings, will there?"

Robinpaw frowned. "No, I don't think so," Kestrelpaw offered sympathetically. "A shame… none of the apprentices ever got a chance to go… I wonder what they were like before TigerClan ruined them?"

"Wonderful!" Cinderpaw meowed enthusiastically. Robinpaw imagined her blue, blue eyes shining. "They were a great chance to meet cats from outside the Clan, and they made the relationships between Clans much stronger. There was a lot to be learned… but now it's all gone."

"How would you know that?" chuckled Kestrelpaw. "Cinderpaw, you're weird – you've never been to a Gathering before!"

Cinderpaw huffed, "I know! But I can imagine! Geez, Kestrelpaw!"

Kestrelpaw chuckled, and Robinpaw's whiskers twitched. Robinpaw got out of his nest to finish grooming, and in his mind he went over his chores for today – he was going to check on the elders and queens, and give medicine to Whitewing, but the little specifics were falling away from him thanks to his dream.

Starlingthorn had mentioned that the woods shouldn't move like they do, and Robinpaw wasn't sure what she meant. Why was it important that Robinpaw could go where he liked? He thought it worked that way for anyone in the forest, not just him. Was there something odd going on with him in that place? Robinpaw hadn't felt anything stranger than he was used to.

The ferns at the entrance to the den swished, and in came Leafpool. She smelled of fresh-kill, and Robinpaw sensed that she'd brought them breakfast – or at least one of them. Leafpool laid the mouse in her jaws at Robinpaw's paws.

"For you," she purred, before giving him a lick between the ears.

"Aw, none for us?" Cinderpaw complained. "I'm hungry!"

Leafpool meowed, "Stormfur and Graystripe said that they'd take you hunting before your swim today." Before Kestrelpaw could say his peace, Leafpool added, "Kestrelpaw and I are going to hunt while we restock."

Robinpaw bent down to eat the mouse. Leafpool and Kestrelpaw clustered together, getting ready to leave.

"Do you have an idea of what we need?" Leafpool wondered.

"I do," Kestrelpaw replied. "I was looking into it, like you asked me to."

"Thanks," Leafpool breathed. She shifted, and to Cinderpaw she meowed, "Please be careful in the water, all right?"

"I will," Cinderpaw meowed. Then, she asked, "Leafpool… will there ever be another Gathering?"

Leafpool answered uncertainly, "I honestly don't know. With the way the last one ended, I don't think the Clans will ever gather together in the same way again. Besides, Bramblestar and Onestar decided for our own safety that we don't go the island anymore."

She sighed and said, "It's a shame, since StarClan loves the Gatherings… I don't think they think of it the same way now, though."

"Do you think they'd be mad at us for missing Gatherings?" Kestrelpaw wondered.

Leafpool answered, "I'm not sure… but I think they understand."

Robinpaw finished his meal. Leafpool gathered up Kestrelpaw, and together they left. Robinpaw yawned when they were gone, left alone with Cinderpaw in the den. He got to his paws and began arranging the herbs he'd need for tending to his duties today.

He sighed at the mess that was the herb crevice. Leafpool hadn't been sleeping well since Barkface's death, working hard to train both of her apprentices. Along with their resident patient, Leafpool was working overtime.

Robinpaw scraped together his herbs and was about to leave when Cinderpaw's low voice stopped him:

"Oh Leafpool," she was murmuring. "you're still far too hard on yourself."

Robinpaw slipped out of the crevice, frowning at Cinderpaw's words. Cinderpaw sounded like an elder sometimes, and Robinpaw seriously wondered if her usual demeanor was an act. Still, it was better not to dwell on it when there was work to be done.

Graystripe and Stormfur came to pick up Cinderpaw while Robinpaw was sorting out his herbs. With them gone, the den was empty, and it was time for Robinpaw to go about his duties to the Clan. Herbs in his jaws, Robinpaw padded out of the den and into the camp.

Robinpaw sighed. Sunhigh had passed and his duties were done, but the heat felt heavy on his pelt. He had finished a short wash, having his ears open to the activities of the camp. There was a collective tension hanging over the cats of LionClan and it seemed like the heat was only amplifying it. Robinpaw, too, wondered if there would be a break in sight.

The elders and queens weighed heavily on his mind. The elders had been crotchety, as usual, but their conversation was dark and dismal. They didn't seem keen on looking at the brighter end of things, and Dustpelt's addition to the den didn't help that cynicism. Dustpelt seemed twice as grumpy as any elder, possibly because he had been forced into the den.

Going to the nursery hadn't been much better. Though Robinpaw had been looking forward to leaving the elder's negativity behind, the queens seemed just as bad, if not worse since they seemed to hide it a lot better. Ferncloud's tone when she spoke of her kits made Robinpaw wonder if she feared losing them any moment now – and Brook and Whitewing didn't seem very enthused about their kits, either. Daisy had been a little optimistic, but even blind Robinpaw could see she was putting on airs for his benefit.

No one seems capable of thinking positively, Robinpaw thought. He kneaded his paws into the dusty earth. Is it TigerClan, really? Or is it this heat? We won a battle and our latest skirmish went in our favor – shouldn't we still be happy about that? Did victories really mean so little, or was the Clan just so used to thinking TigerClan could just sweep in and destroy them at any moment?

Robinpaw sighed again, feeling heavier. The Clan needs something to bring its spirits up…

The Clan needs a Gathering again.

Robinpaw's ears shot up. He recalled how, just earlier, Cinderpaw had expressed how important and amazing Gatherings were. How important they were to the Clans, to StarClan, even. Cinderpaw had never been to a Gathering, but perhaps she was on to something?

From the sound of things, Bramblestar and Onestar were sitting in their usual spot beneath the Highledge. It was one of the shadiest spots in camp, and lots of cats gathered beneath it. Robinpaw got to his paws and headed for them, feeling the heat lifting a little off his pelt as he came under the shadow of the Highledge.

"… patrols have been sent out," Bramblestar was murmured. "We'll see what they come back with, and then -"

"Robinpaw," Onestar meowed in greeting. He cut off his low conversation with Bramblestar. "What is it?"

"We need to have a Gathering again," Robinpaw stated.

Silence. Robinpaw didn't need sight to know that Onestar and Bramblestar were taken aback by the thought. Robinpaw took their silence as a means to go on:

"I know we can't gather on the island anymore, but why let TigerClan ruin the tradition altogether?" he reasoned. Sounding more enthusiastic, he meowed, "The Clan needs something to look forward to – a positive consistency that will lift up their spirits! It doesn't have to be the exact same sort of Gathering, but it could follow the same principles."

"That sounds great!" chimed in Cloudtail. Robinpaw flinched, embarrassed at himself for not detecting the warrior nearby. Cloudtail approached and added, "It could be a like a big Clan meeting!"

"E-Exactly," Robinpaw agreed. "Since we're just one Clan we don't need to wait for the other Clans, and we can say more. Right?" He'd never been to a Gathering before – he assumed it was mostly talking from what he'd heard described from warriors.

"We've been one Clan for several seasons," Cloudtail pointed out, "but it still seems like some cats don't know one another well. This would be a good opportunity for that."

"It sounds like a great idea," Bramblestar agreed. "With so much going on, neither of us thought of creating any sort of supplement to a Gathering. Onestar?"

"I'd be willing to give it a shot," Onestar admitted. "Robinpaw is right – we shouldn't let TigerClan ruin our ability to honor our Clan's accomplishments and our warrior ancestors. Traditional Gatherins are important, but… I don't think StarClan will object to this replacement. Especially since the idea came from a medicine cat."

Robinpaw felt a little excitement in his paws. "S-So… are we going to do it?" he wondered, his voice trembling.

"We'll try," Bramblestar promised. "Let me and Onestar talk it over and we'll see what can be done."

Robinpaw's tail flicked in triumph. Though he was sure Onestar and Bramblestar would have listened if it was any cat, perhaps it was best that he had been the one to suggest it. Besides, it didn't seem like anyone else was coming up with any ideas.

Starlingthorn might have given me the idea for Cinderpaw's treatment, but I don't need her for all my ideas, he thought. Confidence filled him. Because of me the Clan will have something to be happy about!

"I'll see you at sundown," Lionpaw offered. "Good luck hunting!"

"Good luck training," Spottedpaw threw back. The two touched noses before parting. Spottedpaw watched Lionpaw and his training patrol head off into the undergrowth before she turned to her own patrol – Nightcloud, Berryfrost, and her mentor, Brightheart.

Spottedpaw stretched. Part of her had wanted to do some battle training today, but she supposed she would tomorrow. Hunting with her mentor was just as important, and it would give her a good opportunity to stretch her legs – besides, how often did she get to go on patrol with her friend?

"Let's get on," Nightcloud decided.

The dark she-cat led the way through the forest. To Spottedpaw's dismay – and the patrol's – they were heading towards the TigerClan border. The entire patrol tensed; but orders were orders, and no one had hunted there since the skirmish between patrols.

As if to lighten the mood, Brightheart chuckled, "So, Berryfrost – how does it feel?"

"W-What?" the cream-colored warrior wondered.

"To be the only tom in a patrol full of she-cats!" Nightcloud rasped, catching on to Brightheart's train of thought.

Spottedpaw's whiskers twitched in amusement as Berryfrost's hackles fluffed in indignation. He retorted, "I could have joined an all-tom patrol if I wanted!"

Brightheart and Nightcloud purred in amusement, and Spottedpaw chuckled. Poor Berryfrost's stump of a tail was fluffed, but he looked a little more relaxed than he had a moment before.

Before the patrol reached the border, Nightcloud stopped them. Spottedpaw could hear the lake lapping against its dwindling shoreline not far off, and wagered that they were opposite the old Twoleg nest; a good thing, since Spottedpaw felt that too many cats had been there recently.

"Berryfrost and I will try to find something further down the shore," Nightcloud decided. "Even with the water low, there ought to be prey looking for a drink. Brightheart, take Spottedpaw and search a little further inland; don't stray too far."

Brightheart nodded respectfully. Spottedpaw admired that about her mentor – able to handle orders from a cat seasons younger than she was without complaint. Berryfrost and Nightcloud headed off down the shoreline, while Brightheart and Spottedpaw made their way up the slope and further into the forest.

"Be careful," Brightheart murmured. "The border isn't far off."

Spottedpaw nodded knowingly.

With a flick of her tail, Brightheart asked, "What can you smell?"

Spottedpaw opened her jaws. Scents flooded her glands, but unfortunately prey wasn't the strongest smell. She did manage to find something, though – a bird. Spottedpaw told Brightheart.

"Good," Brightheart mewed. "Let's go."

The two she-cats set off towards the bird scent, low to the ground and silent on their paws. Soon enough, about two fox-lengths away, the bird sat pecking amongst the dry roots of an elm. Brightheart and Spottedpaw were more than a pace apart, one ready to pounce should the other fail in catching the bird.

Yet when Brightheart gave the signal that she was about to strike, Spottedpaw could see her echo trying – and failing. Spottedpaw rushed ahead instead, slamming her paws into the bird and killing it rather ungracefully with her claws.

Panting, Spottedpaw looked at her mentor and wondered just how much trouble she was in – but Brightheart's eye was open in astonishment.

"I've never seen you move so fast, Spottedpaw!" she breathed. "What came over you?"

Spottedpaw caught her breath. I can't tell her about my power… but what made Brightheart's attempt fail? She searched, trying to keep her fur from fluffing. Then, she saw it – a stick, just before Brightheart's paws. A pace more and it would have cracked beneath her and the bird would have been scared off. Spottedpaw pointed this out.

Brightheart's ears pricked. "Wow," she decided. "Good catch!" Her tone turned embarrassed, and she added, "My ability to see things so close and so far away isn't the best, I'm sure you know… Thank you."

Spottedpaw nodded. "It's all right," she said in understanding.

Brightheart's eye brightened, and she meowed, "Let's see what else we can find, shall we? And keep an eye out for more sticks… they're falling off all the time because of this drought."

"This is unfortunate," Nightcloud decided.

The hunting patrol had gathered together as the sun began to sink behind the trees. Spottedpaw's heart sank – Berrynose and Nightcloud had only managed to get a rabbit… and the bird Spottedpaw had caught was all that she and Brightheart had found themselves. She looked plaintively at the warriors, hoping they knew some sort of solution.

"There was nothing else," Berryfrost sighed. "Nightcloud was lucky to catch this one unawares!"

"If we'd have traveled further we would have risked interfering with the other hunting party," Brightheart pointed out somberly. "This drought is more of a problem than we thought."

Spottedpaw looked down at their measly catch. Two pieces of prey was considered a lot in leaf-bare, but it was nearing the middle of greenleaf. If hunting kept up like this, their territory wouldn't be able to support them. Spottedpaw thanked StarClan for what she'd been able to get, though it was only because of her power.

"Let's head back," Nightcloud decided. "Perhaps the other hunters were luckier than us."

The group gathered up their catch and headed back to camp. Spottedpaw's neck sagged under the weight of the rabbit in her jaws – but she knew the weakness was from disappointment, not herself. The group plodded on and headed through the gorse tunnel.

Spottedpaw saw Lionpaw washing himself outside the apprentice's den, looking tired but pleased. She would speak with him later, when Brightheart was done with her. Spottedpaw and Brightheart deposited their catch on the meager pile and then caught up with Nightcloud, who was making her report to Ashfoot and Cloudtail.

"Sandstorm's patrol reported similar results," Cloudtail said as Brightheart and Spottedpaw approached. "She led them into the moorland, even, and she reports that the drought has caused the stream between the forest and the moors to recede."

"It's drying up?" hissed Berryfrost in shock. Nightcloud pinned her ears, and Brightheart stiffened. Spottedpaw kneaded her paws into the ground concernedly. The stream was drying up? But it was the closest source of water to the camp!

Those cats left in camp who were listening in rippled in panic as well. Mutterings and murmurings of worry flowed through them like wind in the branches, and Spottedpaw wondered if there might be a Clan-wide panic on their paws.

"It'll be all right," Ashfoot offered. "We've faced weather like this before, and it's never lasted long."

"But what if it does?" asked Spiderleg. The wiry warrior's words were supported by the worried voices of his Clanmates. "What if TigerClan thinks they can take our territory? They must be facing similar problems."

"What if we took their territory?" wondered Birchfall beside his brother.

"Now there's an idea!" Spiderleg breathed in agreement – and this thought was carried and passed through the crowd. Spottedpaw's eyes widened at the amount of cats whose minds suddenly turned from worry to excitement. A lump formed in her throat when she saw Lionpaw's eyes sparkle in the crowd.

"Yeah!" agreed another cat. "Let's get the jump on them this time!"

"I wonder how they would like their territory taken out from under them!"

Cloudtail's tail fluffed at the growing approval. He managed, "We'll speak with Bramblestar and Onestar about it! For now, all of you need to get back to your duties!"

Spottedpaw watched the Clan disperse into groups – but few were muttering in indignation. Most were chittering with excitement, tails lashing to and fro at the thought of getting even with TigerClan. Spottedpaw trembled at the thought of another battle… and with how excited the Clan was, could their leaders really deny the warriors?

"Doesn't that sound great, Spottedpaw?"

Spottedpaw turned her head to see Lionpaw standing beside her. His eyes were wide and his thick ruff was fluffed.

"I mean," he went on, "this time we'd be able to take something from them!"

Spottedpaw flattened her ears. "Mouse-brain!" she spat. "Do you think they'd roll over and just let us take their territory?"

Lionpaw looked unperturbed. "TigerClan seems tired," he told her with a shrug. "In the border skirmish they weren't fighting their hardest. Now is probably the best time to get back at them, honestly!"

Spottedpaw looked at her brother. Surely this war wasn't going to devolve into a kits game of tit-for-tat? Treating cats' lives like playthings, expendable for the cause? Her mouth was dry, and she had no way to express her frustration to her brother without sounding like a traitor. So she kept her mouth shut – but stayed appalled all the same.